Optimization of some experimental parameters in the electro membrane extraction of chlorophenols from seawater

Environmental Applications of Electromembrane Extraction: A Review

Electromembrane extraction (EME) is a miniaturized extraction technique that has been widely used in recent years for the analysis and removal of pollutants in the environment. It is based on electrokinetic migration across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) under the influence of an external electrical field between two aqueous compartments. Based on the features of the SLM and the electrical field, EME offers quick extraction, effective sample clean-up, and good selectivity, and limits the amount of organic solvent used per sample to a few microliters. In this paper, the basic devices (membrane materials and types of organic solvents) and influencing factors of EME are first introduced, and the applications of EME in the analysis and removal of environmental inorganic ions and organic pollutants are systematically reviewed. An outlook on the future development of EME for environmental applications is also given.

Interfacial Imide Polymerization of Functionalized Filled Microcapsule Templates by the Pickering Emulsion Method for the Rapid Removal of 3,4,5-Trichlorophenol from Wastewater

In this work, an olive oil-filled composite capsule (C-O/W) adsorbent was prepared for the adsorption of 3,4,5-trichlorophenol (3,4,5-TCP) by the emulsion templating method. Using methylene diisocyanate (HDI) and 1,6-hexanediamine (HMDA) as functional monomers, olive oil was encapsulated in a shell layer composed of graphene oxide and a polymer by interfacial imine polymerization. The contaminant target was efficiently removed by the hydrophobic interaction between olive oil and chlorophenols. The removal of 3,4,5-TCP was remarkable, with an encapsulation rate of 85%. The unique microcapsule structure further enhanced the kinetic performance, which reached 92% of the maximum value within 40 min. The adsorption of different chlorophenols was investigated using 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP), and 3,4,5-TCP. The adsorption of 3,4,5-TCP by the C-O/W microcapsules was found to be much higher than that of other chlorophenols. When analyzing a real sample, the content of 3,4,5-TCP was significantly reduced after adsorption by the C-O/W microcapsules, demonstrating that the C-O/W microcapsules were also capable of removing 3,4,5-TCP from a complex environment. This simple and inexpensive preparation strategy provides a new method for the synthesis of functionalized C-O/W microcapsule adsorbents and an effective adsorbent of 3,4,5-TCP.

Electromembrane extraction of polar substances - Status and perspectives

In this article, the scientific literature on electromembrane extraction (EME) of polar substances (log P < 2) is reviewed. EME is an extraction technique based on electrokinetic migration of analyte ions from an aqueous sample, across an organic supported liquid membrane (SLM), and into an aqueous acceptor solution. Because extraction is based on voltage-assisted partitioning, EME is fundamentally suitable for extraction of polar and ionizable substances that are challenging in many other extraction techniques. The article provides an exhaustive overview of papers on EME of polar substances. From this, different strategies to improve the mass transfer of polar substances are reviewed and critically discussed. These strategies include different SLM chemistries, modification of supporting membranes, sorbent additives, aqueous solution chemistry, and voltage/current related strategies. Finally, the future applicability of EME for polar substances is discussed. We expect EME in the coming years to be developed towards both very selective targeted analysis, as well as untargeted analysis of polar substances in biomedical applications such as metabolomics and peptidomics.

Ultrasound-assisted electromembrane extraction with supported semi-liquid membrane

Electromembrane extraction (EME), involving the migration of charged analytes across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) with an external power supply, is a promising sample preparation method in analytical chemistry. However, the presence of boundary double layers at the SLM/solution interfaces often restricts extraction efficiency. To avoid this, the current work proposed an ultrasound-assisted EME (UA-EME) method based on a novel type of supported semi-liquid membrane (SsLM). The characterizations showed that the SsLM was stable under ultrasound conditions. Ultrasound was found to reduce the boundary double layers and thus increase the mass transfer. Major operational parameters in UA-EME including ultrasound power density, temperature, applied voltage and extraction time were optimized with haloperidol, fluoxetine, and sertraline as model analytes. Under the optimal conditions, extraction recoveries of model analytes in water samples were in the range of 66.8%-91.6%. When this UA-EME method was coupled with LC-MS/MS for detection of the target analytes in human urine samples, the linear range of the analytical method was 10-1000 ng mL^-1, with R² > 0.997 for all analytes. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 1.7-2.1 ng mL^-1 and 5.7-6.7 ng mL^-1, respectively. The UA-EME expands the application field of ultrasound chemistry and will be very important in development of stable and fast sample preparation systems in the future.

Volatile free liquid membranes for electromembrane extraction

Volatile solvents are excellent extraction media for liquid-liquid extractions. However, their use in supported liquid membranes (SLMs) is limited by their evaporation from SLM and thus poor SLM stability and they have never been considered truly useful for electromembrane extraction (EME). In this contribution, volatile solvents were systematically investigated as liquid membranes for EME and their extraction characteristics were comprehensively examined for the first time. A short plug of a water immiscible volatile solvent (a free liquid membrane (FLM)) was sandwiched between two aqueous plugs (donor and acceptor solutions) in a narrow-bore polymeric tubing. Evaporation of the volatile FLM was thus completely avoided and excellent stability of the phase interface was ensured. Suitability of volatile FLMs for EMEs was justified by μ-EMEs of nortriptyline, haloperidol, loperamide and papaverine as model non-polar basic drugs. Extraction performance of μ-EME through ethyl acetate was comparable or better to that through standard non-volatile EME solvents and a high extraction selectivity was achieved for nortriptyline and haloperidol extracted through chloroform. μ-EMEs through the volatile FLMs were characterized by high extraction recoveries (62%-99% for standards and 40-89% for body fluids), low electric currents (10-1380 nA), no susceptibility to matrix ions and suitability for pretreatment of raw body fluids (human urine and serum). Resulting extracts were analysed by capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet detection (CE/UV). Repeatability of the μ-EME-CE/UV method was excellent with intra-day and inter-day RSD values 0.8-3.2% and 1.8-4.6%, respectively. Further experiments demonstrated additional advantages of volatile FLMs by nearly exhaustive μ-EMEs of atenolol as the polar basic drug with no need for FLM modification by ionic carriers. The presented comprehensive examination of volatile solvents has broadened the range of liquid membranes suitable for EME and it is believed that this proof-of-concept study will stimulate further interest in a deeper investigation of volatile phase interfaces in EME.

Electromembrane extraction of peptides using deep eutectic solvents as liquid membrane

For the first time, we report electromembrane extraction (EME) of peptides using deep eutectic solvent (DES) as supported liquid membrane (SLM). DES were mixtures of coumarin, camphor, DL-menthol and thymol. Sixteen model peptides were extracted from 100 μL 50 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.0), through the SLM, and into 100 μL acceptor solution consisting of 50 mM phosphoric acid (pH 1.8). EME was performed in 96-well format with 30 V to facilitate extraction of positively charged peptides. The model peptides comprised three to 13 amino acids, and differed significantly in terms of acid/base functionalities and polarity. We found pure DES to be inefficient for EME of peptides. However, with addition of a small amount of the ionic carrier di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) to the DES, the extraction efficiency increased due to ionic interactions. With the most efficient SLM; coumarin and thymol mixed in molar ratio (1:2) with 2.0% (v/v) DEHP, average recovery after 15 min was 55%; five peptides were extracted with recovery > 80%, nine peptides with recoveries in the range 40-80%, and two peptides were not extracted (recovery < 5%). When extraction time was extended to 45 min, average extraction recovery increased to 83%. Extraction recoveries with DES were higher than previously reported in the literature for the same model peptides.

Selectivity and efficiency of electromembrane extraction of polar bases with different liquid membranes-Link to analyte properties

In the present fundamental study, selectivity and efficiency of electromembrane extraction of 50 polar basic substances (-6.7 < log P < +1.0) was systematically studied for ten different supported liquid membranes. For each model substance, 23 molecular descriptors were collected and these were investigated as potential parameters for understanding of extraction efficiency and selectivity by means of partial least squares regression. Overall, a highly aromatic deep eutectic solvent composed of coumarin and thymol with addition of 2% ionic carrier (di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate) provided the highest extraction efficiency with an average extraction yield of 69% from pure water samples, 55% from plasma, and 62% from urine. With this solvent system, ionic, cation-π, and π-π interactions between the supported liquid membrane and analytes were dominant. Supported liquid membranes without aromaticity, however, operated primarily based on hydrogen-bonding interactions. This is the first time the relationship between analyte properties, solvent composition, and extraction yield has systematically been studied for polar bases in electromembrane extraction. This new knowledge represents a first step toward enabling future development and optimization of electromembrane extraction systems for polar bases based on rational design, rather than trial-and-error approaches.

Sorption behavior of selected chlorophenols onto polyurethane foam treated with iron(III): kinetics and thermodynamic study

An efficient, selective, and inexpensive method for complete elimination of chlorophenols (CPs) from water has been established. The proposed procedure was based upon the use of n-tributyl phosphate (TBP)-plasticized iron(III) physically immobilized polyurethane foam (PUF) solid sorbent for complete removal of CPs from aqueous media at pH close to 0. The interaction of the complex ion [Fe(C₆H₅O)₆]^3- with protonated ether oxygen of the PUF sorbent forms ternary ion associate on/in the PUFs. The retention of 4-chlorophenol (4-C) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) by the TBP-treated iron(III)-immobilized PUF fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a rate constant (k) of 0.04 and 0.15 g (mg min)^-1, respectively. The sorption of 4-CP was endothermic whereas the uptake of TCP was favorable at low temperature approving the exothermic and non-spontaneous characteristics of its uptake. The ΔS value for 4-CP reveals good affinity of the ion [Fe(C₆H₅O)₆]^3- towards the PUF sorbent.

Electromembrane Extraction Using Sacrificial Electrodes

In this paper, we report the first example of employing a sacrificial electrode in the acceptor solution during electromembrane extraction (EME). The electrode was based on a silver wire with a layer of silver chloride electroplated onto the surface. During EME, the electrode effectively inhibited electrolysis of water in the acceptor compartment, by accepting the charge transfer across the SLM, which enabled the application of 500 μA current without suffering gas formation or pH changes from electrolysis of water. The electroplating strategy was optimized with a design-of-experiments (DOE) methodology that provided optimal conditions of electroplating. With an optimized electrode, 1 cm of the electrode in contact with the acceptor solution inhibited electrolysis of water for approximately 30 min at 500 μA current (redox capacity). Further, the redox capacity of the electrode was found to increase through multiple uses. The advantage of the electrode was demonstrated by extracting polar analytes at high-current conditions in a standard EME system comprising 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) as SLM and 10 mM HCl as sample/acceptor solutions. Application of high current enabled significantly higher recoveries than could otherwise be obtained at 100 μA. Sacrificial electrodes were also tested in μ-EME and were found beneficial by eliminating detrimental bubble formation. Thus, the sacrificial electrodes improved the stability of μ-EME systems. The findings of this paper are important for development of stable and robust systems for EME operated at high voltage/current and for EME performed in narrow channels/tubing where bubble formation is critical.

Electromembrane extraction of sodium dodecyl sulfate from highly concentrated solutions

This fundamental work investigated the removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from highly concentrated samples by electromembrane extraction (EME).

Applications of Hollow-Fiber and Related Microextraction Techniques for the Determination of Pesticides in Environmental and Food Samples—A Mini Review

Pesticides represent one of the most important groups of analytes in environmental analysis. Moreover, their levels are very frequently determined in food and beverages due to the concern over their possible adverse health effects. Their concentration in samples is usually very low; thus, they have to be preconcentrated. Conventional solvent and solid-phase extractions are mainly used for this purpose, but miniaturized approaches are also being applied more and more often. The present review covers solvent microextractions that use a semi-permeable membrane barrier between the sample and the solvent. The main representatives of this approach are hollow-fiber microextraction (HFME), solvent bar microextraction (SBME), electromembrane extraction (EME), and different variations of those, such as combinations with other sorbent or solvent microextractions, electromigration, etc. The relevant research from the last decade, dealing with the application of these microextractions to the isolation of pesticides from various environmental and food samples, is critically discussed with emphasis on their strengths and weak points.

Simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic drugs via on-chip electromembrane extraction using a single-compartment microfluidic device

A chip was designed for simultaneous extraction of acidic and basic drugs from biological fluids.

Electromembrane extraction of substances with weakly basic properties: a fundamental study with benzodiazepines

Aim: Electromembrane extraction (EME) of weakly basic benzodiazepines was investigated (-1.47 < pKa < 5.01). Materials & Methods: 96-well EME was performed with strongly acidic conditions in the acceptor solution using 250-mM trifluoroacetic acid to maximize ionization. Results & Conclusion: Recoveries more than 80% were obtained for analytes with pKa > 2, whereas EME was less efficient for substances with pKa < 2. The latter was trapped in the supported liquid membrane due to less acidic pH conditions in the acceptor solution close to the supported liquid membrane. EME followed by UHPLC–MS/MS analysis was evaluated from human plasma, and the results were in compliance with EMA guidelines. Both electrokinetic migration and passive diffusion contributed to mass transfer when performing EME of weakly basic analytes.

Electromembrane extraction-Recent trends and where to go

Electromembrane extraction (EME) is an analytical microextraction technique, where charged analytes (such as drug substances) are extracted from an aqueous sample (such as a biological fluid), through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) comprising a water immiscible organic solvent, and into an aqueous acceptor solution. The driving force for the extraction is an electrical potential (dc) applied across the SLM. In this paper, EME is reviewed. First, the principle for EME is explained with focus on extraction of cationic and anionic analytes, and typical performance data are presented. Second, papers published in 2016 are reviewed and discussed with focus on (a) new SLMs, (b) new support materials for the SLM, (c) new sample additives improving extraction, (d) new technical configurations, (e) improved theoretical understanding, and (f) pharmaceutical new applications. Finally, important future research objectives and directions are defined for further development of EME, with the aim of establishing EME in the toolbox of future analytical laboratories.

Efficient discrimination and removal of phospholipids during electromembrane extraction from human plasma samples

Aim: For the first time, extracts obtained from human plasma samples by electromembrane extraction (EME) were investigated comprehensively with particular respect to phospholipids using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Thhe purpose was to investigate the potential of EME for phospholipid cleanup in different EME systems. Results & discussion: No traces of phospholipids were detected in any of the acceptor solutions, whereas the model analytes were extracted with recoveries up to 50%. Thus, the EME systems tested in this work were found to be highly efficient for providing phospholipid-free extracts. Conclusion: Ultra-HPLC–MS/MS analysis of the donor solutions revealed that the phospholipids principally remained in the plasma samples. This proved that the phospholipids did not migrate in the electrical field and they were prevented from penetrating the supported liquid membrane.

Low-voltage electrochemically stimulated stir membrane liquid-liquid microextraction as a novel technique for the determination of methadone

In the present work, for the first time, a new portable setup was designed, developed and presented for the extraction of methadone, as a basic drug model from biological fluid samples using a low-voltage electrically stimulated stir membrane liquid-liquid microextraction technique (LV-ESSM-LLME), followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. This new approach combines the advantages of stir membrane liquid-liquid microextraction and electrokinetic migration in the same unit under soft electrochemical conditions in a portable device, allowing for the isolation and preconcentration of the target analyte in a simple and efficient manner under three-phase mode. To investigate the influence of external stirring and the application of electrical potential as the driving force, a comparative study of all variables involved in the extraction process was carried out using the low-voltage electromembrane extraction (LV-EME) and LV-ESSM-LLME methods. Under soft electrokinetic migration conditions, methadone was transported from an acidic sample solution (pH 4.0), through the NPOE immobilized in the pores of the porous polypropylene sheet membrane, and into 25µL of 10mmolL^-1 HCl acceptor solution with a stirring rate of 1000rpm and 700rpm after 15min and 20min for LV-ESSM-LLME and LV-EME, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, preconcentration factors in the range of 17-24 and 21.5-29 for LV-EME and LV-ESSM-LLME, respectively, were considered, and satisfactory repeatability (4.5<[RSD]<7.5) was obtained in different matrices. The obtained relative recoveries of the target analyte were in the range of 87-94% and 93-101% for LV-EME and LV-ESSM-LLME, respectively, which indicated the excellent capability of the developed methods to extract methadone from complex matrices.

A novel electro-driven membrane for removal of chromium ions using polymer inclusion membrane under constant D.C. electric current

In this study, the use of polymer inclusion membrane under constant electric current for the removal of Cr(VI) from water has investigated for the first time. Transport of Cr(VI) is performed by an electric current from the donor phase to the acceptor phase with a constant electric current of 0.5A. The optimized membrane includes of 12.1% 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (2-NPOE), 77.6% cellulose triacetate (CTA), 10.3% tricapryl-methylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) as a carrier. We tested the applicability of the selected membrane for Cr(VI) removal in real environmental water samples and evaluated its reusability. Electro membrane experiments were carried out under various parameters, such as the effect of electro membrane voltage at constant DC electric current; electro membrane current at constant voltage, acceptor phase pH, and stable electro membrane; and a comparison of polymer inclusion membrane and electro membrane transport studies. The Cr(VI) transport was achieved 98.33% after 40min under optimized conditions. An alternative method has been employed that eliminates the changing of electrical current by the application of constant electric current for higher reproducibility of electro membrane extraction experiments by combining the excellent selective and long-term use features of polymer inclusion membrane.

Effect of type of stirring on hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction and electromembrane extraction of basic drugs: speed up extraction time and enhancement of extraction efficiency

In microextraction procedures, the stirring of the donor solution is crucial to speed up the extraction.

Rotating electrode in electro membrane extraction: a new and efficient methodology to increase analyte mass transfer

Rotating electrode electromembrane extraction (REEME) as a new EME approach was introduced for the extraction of basic drugs from different matrices.

A novel strategy based on surfactant assisted electromembrane extraction for the determination of dicamba and 2,4-DB as model herbicides in real water samples

Schematic illustration of the surfactant assisted electromembrane-extraction (SEME) technique.